Whitley
Gender-neutral name · English · Old English
Meaningwhite clearing · Old English
- US rank
- #675
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #446 in 1988
420 babies were named Whitley in the US in 2025. It has climbed 271 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1984–2025
US births per million boys, 1914–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Whitley you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 3,827 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Whitley, 420 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Whitley would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryWhitley first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1988, when it reached #446.
- Then vs nowWhitley is 4.6× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 17,452 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 3,827.
- TrendWhitley has climbed 271 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #675. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedWhitley is most popular in Oklahoma, where it ranks #143, followed by Missouri (#185) and Arkansas (#250). It's in the top 1,000 in 23 states.
- Boy or girlWhitley is given to both boys and girls: 83% of the 508 babies named Whitley in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn Old English, Whitley means “white clearing”. Our records link it to English and Old English roots.
About the name Whitley
Whitley is a gender-neutral name of English and Old English origin meaning “white clearing”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with W and ending in “-ley”. US birth records list Whitley for girls from 1984 to 2025, in 41 of those 42 years. Its best year was 1988, when it ranked #446 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #675, with 420 babies. Of the 508 US babies named Whitley in 2025, 83% were girls and 17% were boys.
Origin:English namesOld English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 97 | 10,295 girls |
| 1990s | 110 | 9,098 girls |
| 2000s | 48 | 20,777 girls |
| 2010s | 119 | 8,403 girls |
| 2020s | 219 | 4,571 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 4.7 | 214,286 boys |
| 1920s | 1.4 | 740,741 boys |
| 1930s | 1.4 | 714,286 boys |
| 1940s | 0.4 | 2,325,581 boys |
| 1950s | 0.4 | 2,564,103 boys |
| 1960s | 0.5 | 2,083,333 boys |
| 1980s | 1.9 | 531,915 boys |
| 1990s | 3.2 | 312,500 boys |
| 2000s | 1.8 | 564,972 boys |
| 2010s | 13 | 78,678 boys |
| 2020s | 38 | 26,258 boys |
Other spellings of Whitley
More English names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Whitley
What does the name Whitley mean?
Whitley means “white clearing” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Whitley?
Whitley has English, Old English roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Oliver.
Is Whitley a boy or girl name?
Both. Whitley is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 83% of US babies named Whitley were girls.
How popular is the name Whitley?
Whitley ranked #675 for US girls in 2025, given to 420 babies. Its best year was 1988 (#446).